Private Equity partner and Head of Entertainment, Sports & Media Tom Ara joined Bloomberg TV’s “The Close” to discuss significant mergers & acquisitions in Hollywood during the first half of 2026 and share insights into what Hollywood, Wall Street and Silicon Valley can expect going forward.

In a wide-ranging discussion with co-anchor Katie Greifeld, Tom noted that the market has shifted from a cautious stance last year to a more confident environment, leading to increased capital deployment and consolidation in the entertainment sector.

“I think we have now moved into more of a confidence period. Capital is certainly deploying and consolidation continues,” Tom explained. “To use a sports analogy, we are probably in the ‘middle innings’ still. Entertainment and media are evolving constantly with the advent of technology changing things significantly.”

The conversation also covered topics including the growth of the creator economy and the concerns and opportunities associated with the increasing use of AI in entertainment.

“The creator economy and creators in general are not replacing Hollywood; they are changing it,” said Tom. “There is certainly a recognition now that the creators with substantial audiences are tremendous distribution opportunities. With the right opportunity and the right content, those audiences will follow the creators to where they lead them.”

“We went through a period of fear and speculation with AI because the unknown is always going to sow fear and doubt. I think we are now moving into a phase of implementation and execution, and how AI can enhance and improve these industries while still preserving the values and importance of the creators and the participants in the industries.”

To watch Tom’s full interview, please visit Bloomberg.